Kyle Dubas Doesn't Get Enough Credit for His Work with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Kyle Dubas gets a lot of hate for his time as Maple Leafs GM, however, if you look a bit deeper, he left the team with a lot of potential going forward.
There is always the question of "What If?" when it comes to Kyle Dubas and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Being GM of the Leafs from 2018 until 2023, Dubas was responsible for some great, and not-so-great moves.
The Bad Kyle Dubas Moves
There was the Nazem Kadri trade, which not only upset Maple Leafs fans but brought in such an underwhelming package that you have to wonder what he was thinking.
There was also the Nick Foligno trade, which while looked good on paper did not work out whatsoever. Toronto also acquired Stefan Noesen in that deal and didn't think to keep him, and we all know how that turned out.
Letting Frederik Andersen too was a bold move, and while Andersen isn't the flashiest name on paper, he went to Carolina and revived his career; yes there were concerns about Andersen but it still stings.
But with all those negatives, there are a few positives including one that sets Toronto up for massive success in the future.
The Good Kyle Dubas Moves
There's a lot to like here. Dubas in his time acquired Mark Giordano, Zach Hyman, TJ Brodie, and oh, he signed John Tavares as well.
But the one thing that shares a common factor with Dubas' failures is the fact that he often struck out on trades or free agency. His drafting record, however, is quite impressive.
A lot of the names on that list have either already made their way into the NHL, or are on the cusp of making their debut.
We've already seen Fraser Minten score his first career goal, Dennis Hildeby helped Toronto earlier this season for a couple of games, and Matthew Knies as a 2nd rounder? Steal of the draft.
The Toronto Maple Leafs often get knocked for their inability to produce homegrown talent, or trade them off before they can get a chance such as in Tuukka Rask's case.
But Toronto notoriously was bad at drafting and Dubas changed it.
A lover of analytics and the deeper side of hockey, Dubas' intelligence allowed him to look past traditional prospects and take chances on more college and European players.
3 Key Draft Picks For Toronto This Season
Fraser Minten
Minten was drafted 38th overall in 2022 and has already made an impact only taking him six seconds on the ice to do it.
Minten has been a man possessed in his time on the ice. With 77 goals and 111 assists in 187 games split between Kamloops and Saskatoon, Minten tore up the WHL with a sleek mix of offense, defense and toughness.
He managed a four-game stint with the Maple Leafs last season but was quickly sent back down. He didn't let it deter him, and he managed to translate his play into captaining Team Canada at the World Juniors.
He was initially pegged to make the team this season, but an ankle injury suffered during the Prospect Showcase derailed those plans.
Making his way back to the Toronto Marlies last week, he had 4 points in 5 games before earning a call-up due to David Kampf's injury.
It didn't take long for him to make an impact and he's showing why he was such a valued pick, and why Dubas made the decision to call his name on draft day.
He's added a spark to Toronto's stagnant bottom-six production, and his ability to be a potentially elite two-way forward could be a matter between a series win or another Game 7 heartbreak.
Dennis Hildeby
A towering 6'7 Swedish goaltender with cat-like reflexes, Hildeby has been a stud since being drafted 122nd overall in 2022 (the same draft as Minten).
Already having pro experience after playing with Färjestad and Timrå IK in the Swedish Elitserien (SHL), Hildeby has come over to North America and impressed just as much.
Although it was a tough transition for the young netminder and adjusting to the North American style took time, Hildeby took the chance and ran with it.
Recording a 21-11-7 record in his first full season in North America, Hildeby seemed to adjust perfectly fine and earned a call-up with the Maple Leafs this season due to the injury to Joseph Woll and will earn the first callup if he goes down again.
He won his NHL debut but struggled in his second game. His record stands at 1-1-0 with a 4.03 GAA and .869 SV%, but so far with the Marlies this year he has a 2-0-2 record with a 2.40 GAA and .910 SV%.
Hildeby will no doubt be a big part of Toronto's future going forward, and Dubas had to have a very good insider in Europe to be able to pluck him away.
Matthew Knies
What else is there to say about Matthew Knies?
Currently dealing with an injury thanks to a nasty hit by Zach Whitecloud, Knies beyond that has been more than impressive.
Emerging on a line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, Knies was the perfect addition given his size, speed, and scoring potential.
In his NCAA career, Knies had 36 goals and 39 assists for 75 points in 73 games and was exactly the player Toronto had been lacking for years, ever since James Van Riemsdyk was in town.
But after coming out last season with 15 goals in 80 games, Knies exploded this season and had 8 goals in 20 games already before beginning injured.
A vital part of Toronto's offense, it's unfortunate that Knies is currently hurt, but when he's on the ice it's so much fun to watch. It's a unique hybrid of speed, size, toughness, and youth that makes Knies so fantastic.
He's still only 22, he's got tons of time to break out and will be given every chance to do so. Kyle Dubas may get a lot of hate for things but no Leafs fan can argue he didn't make one of their greatest draft coups.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kyle Dubas
Question 1: Why did Kyle Dubas leave the Toronto Maple Leafs?
Kyle Dubas left the Toronto Maple Leafs in order to pursue a job with the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was clear that although he managed to lead them to success in the regular season, the moves he made did not translate to playoff wins.
His departure opened the door for Brad Treliving to come in and form his version of the team which has so far led to a lot of success, while Dubas is in crisis mode in Pittsburgh.
Question 2: What was Kyle Dubas' greatest move as GM?
It's hard to narrow down, as the signing of John Tavares was crucial to the team and he's been a legend ever since. It's hard to argue with his draft record though.
Adding Knies, Minten, and Hildeby, alongside other huge prospects like Easton Cowan, Noah Chadwick, and Nikita Grebenkin (who made his NHL debut on Wednesday) means Dubas set Toronto up for a lot of success down the line.
It may have been a messy split, but Dubas seemed to want to leave Toronto with some pieces to build on.
Kyle Dubas contributions to the Toronto Maple Leafs was undeniable. It's time to give credit where it's due the the youngest General Manager in the NHL.
